Romero's overview of adult developmental theory stresses the work of Erikson, Havighurst, Loevinger, Perry, Kohlberg, and Cross. Rossman and Rossman discuss the development of their Adult Learning Inventory with an extensive source summary for its 4 factors and a 62-item bibliography. (SK)

Contends that work obsession and alcoholism can and do become steady partners for academics with high achievement need. Suggests that some technological changes may contribute to the resolution of the alcohol-impaired professoriate problem. Examines alcohol abuse, employee assistance programs, and stages of adulthood. (NB)

Investigated whether aging in adulthood affects disclosure patterns. Analyzed responses of 37 women and 30 men of 3 age groups to Jourard's Self-Disclosure Questionnaire. Results support idea that aging affects self-disclosure patterns. Suggests that nature of mental health varies with age and that developmental counseling approach should be…

Discusses issues surrounding menopause, with the idea that counselors are in an ideal position to help change attitudes toward viewing menopause as a time of positive change rather than a time of psychological distress. Reviews historical, sociological, psychological, and attitudinal factors that account for negative responses associated with…

Working mother syndrome arises from the conflicting demands and expectations of careers, family, community, and self. Therapists should help explore underlying issues in a holistic manner. Because adults and career development theories have been predicated on male models, new research is needed to contribute to understanding of the conflicts. (SK)

Examined role of age and education in adult moral reasoning. Interviewed 195 adults between ages of 19 and 82 using standard Kohlberg moral dilemmas. Subjects' education levels ranged from 3 to 25 years. Found no overall significant effect for age, no significant effect for gender, and significant effect for education. (Author/NB)

Examines a variety of personal qualities usually found in creative people. Discusses many theories of creativity representing a variety of intellectual traditions, most of which predict aging decrements of some sort. Suggests that the creativity decline may vary, or that creativity may change rather than decline with age, with differing stylistic…

Differentiates between education and learning, describes the emergence of nonformal and lifelong education, traces shifts in the conceptual framework of educational development, links learning and development, and discusses current thinking about lifelong learning and development. (JOW)

Outlines a theory of human motivation that focuses on the unpredictability of life, innate and noninnate differences in individual characteristics, individual responsibility for actions, importance of a meaningful life, intrinsic physiologic rewards of behavior, gender differences in behavior, adult psychological maturation, and limitations of the…

This study evaluated effects on creativity of a Quality of Life Program for 55 older adults. Subjects participated in a variety of creative activities. An increase in scores (particularly in fluency and flexibility) by the experimental group supported a growth theory of lifelong creativity. (DB)

Examined age- and skill-related differences among adult Bingo players, aged 19 to 74, who had from less that 2 months to over 20 years of playing experience. Subjects completed psychometric, cognitive, and experimental measures. Found no age-related differences on psychometric or memory measures, suggesting that Bingo playing experience may have…

The assumptions of influential adult development models are being questioned: that growth is linear, higher developmental levels are better, all adults want to change and grow, and models based on males apply equally to females. The extent to which knowledge of psychological development is indispensable to practice continues to be debated. (SK)

Examined potential gender differences in emotional immaturity. Forty graduate students completed personal data sheets and Peter Pan Syndrome Test. Findings suggest widespread perceptions between females and males about prevalence of emotional immaturity among their significant others. Females seem to consider emotional immaturity special problem…

Mezirow's concept of perspective transformation (PT) is criticized for considering examples of socially expected development as instances of PT. Individual development is both social and psychological, and PT is best considered as a developmental shift (a new world view) rather than developmental progress. (SK)

Describes an interactive method for teaching a course in the psychology of aging based on a multidisciplinary approach. Argues that it allows incorporation of a wide range of age-related topics, and provides students with practical applications. Allows students to identify and challenge perceptions of age and understand aging from multiple…